The weekend’s snow bomb cyclone killed power and hence Internet connectivity for 22 hours — just as we were getting ready to post this week’s Prayer, Care, Share. I placed these names on my prayer plate, and I hope you include them as well.
We ask the Lord to listen to our petitions with full confidence they not only are heard but acted upon by God according to His holy will. These requests are on my prayer list and I hope you consider putting them on yours as you place your petitions before the Lord Sunday.
Approach the throne room and respond with faith and not fear, knowing the promises of God and His mighty hand will hold us through any situation! Sometimes, all it takes is just one prayer to change everything. Something extraordinary happens when two or more agree together in prayer.
What is one of the most important things we should do as Christians? Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).
And, so, Lord, we come to You with our petitions, knowing and expecting Your will to be done.
Thoughts and prayers to all worldwide suffering from the consequences of coronavirus flu – and all other strains. Many – many – of the prayer requests are covid-19 related … people diagnosed … people sick … people dying … relatives worried and isolated. We are in this together – in prayer!
Please keep the victims of household abuse in your prayers. Whether it be physical, emotional, sexual or neglect, this time in particular is very horrifying for them to be trapped in a house with their abuser(s) and not being able to escape.
We also need to pray for colorblind peace. Racism will remain a plague until we stop looking at people as black and white, but as human beings created by the same Creator. We pray for new eyes, calmer heads, and softer hearts.
Special prayer requests have been made for orphanages in Kenya, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and right here in the United States. The need is real.
Financial issues were also high on the prayer lists with millions still out of work. Sustain those who are hurting financially. Give us and them our daily bread.
Natural disasters continue. Keep those in the path of fires and storms safe and focused on You, Lord.
Be with Kathy, Lord, as she prepares for surgery Dec. 14.
Prayers asked for Marie’s recovery from carpal tunnel surgery.
Please keep Bill in your prayers as he recovers from shoulder surgery.
Please pray for Debby who is also on the mend from surgery.
Please lift up Christopher who is facing surgery.
Please pray for Marie who fell and broke her arm and leg.
Prayers requested for Jen as she awaits cancer tests,
Virginia is home from the hospital but still needs prayers.
Please pray for Fred who has a battery of medical; tests scheduled.
Keep Andrew in your prayers as he continues to fight the fight. He continues to physically fail, so prayers would be appreciated.
Say a prayer for Gunny. This is getting so unbearable.
Lynnie would appreciate prayers for a job situation.
Monica is seeking urgent prayer.
Please pray for Charlie who is sick and in the hospital.
Bebe is seeking prayer for her family. The Lord will know the details.
Meg is seeking prayer for her family. There are multiple difficult circumstances requiring a major touch from the Lord.
Please pray for Gretchen to have her health restored.
Please pray for Patrick who is in a constant battle with his health.
Donn is back home after a very serious heart issue. Prayers still requested for recovery.
Please pray for C. The Lord will know the details of her needs.
Please pray for Cass and her family who have a multitude of requests.
Please pray for Daneli. The Lord will know the details.
Please pray for Craig who has cancer.
Please pray for Stacey who is struggling with health and with managing pain.
Please pray for Rudolph who is in the hospital but not doing well.
Prayers requested for George as he awaits reports from his ear, nose, and throat doctor.
Susan really needs prayer. God knows.
There were a host of unspoken prayer requests and we heard of a number of deaths this week. Prayers for their families as they go through this earthly trial. We grieve … heaven rejoices.
We come to You, Lord, because prayer is the least yet the greatest thing we can do for each other. When two or more are gathered in Your name, we confidently know You are with us. What better company can we have? You reign and we trust You! We may be broken and battered but know You heal and quiet the soul. You are the source for all that happens in our lives. We thank You for the progress being made. We thank You for the many blessings we have received this week. Some we unfortunately didn’t notice. Nonetheless, those blessings are ever-present in our lives. We thank You for healing. We thank You for slowing us down. We thank You for providing us our daily needs — no more and no less. We thank You for being with us, listening to us, walking with us on this journey. We thank You for the support of our family and friends … for seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary — sunrises, sunsets, flowers, kids laughing, adventures, good news amid the bad news. We know we can come to You with our concerns and they will be heard. Through Christ all things are possible. We lift up those family members and friends who are battling various physical, emotional, financial, career or spiritual issues and ask not for Your guidance and healing (although that would be welcomed) but to keep reminding us we are not alone in our battles. Specifically we lift up Kathy, Marie, Bill, Debby, Christopher, Marie, Jen, Virginia, Fred, Andrew, Gunny, Lynnie, Monica, Charlie, Bebe, Meg, Gretchen, Patrick, Donn, C., Cass, Daneli, Craig, Stacey, Rudolph, George, Susan, and all those needing Your healing and guiding touch. We pray for the families of all those You have called home. We grieve … You celebrate. We pray for obedience to Your Will so Your “Son” Light shines through us through the power of the Spirit. And we come to You through the confidence of the words taught by Your Son Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Keep your joys and concerns coming. They have been and will be included during my prayer time and I trust they will be on your lips as well as you approach the altar. All it takes is a couple of keystrokes under the “Contact Me” button on the top bar {or to the right if you’re not a follower yet}. I hope it becomes your best friend as you navigate around the site so we can all be viable prayer warriors. You can also comment or reach me at wisdomfromafather@gmail.com.
THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough. — Meister Eckhart
It all starts with a Twitter party Thursday night where the prompts come to life. Then it’s work time.
I’ve seen the illustration before and was reminded about it again while watching a Hallmark movie last night. I probably wrote about it before. It’s a core value. It’s simple. In fact, it is so simple, we often forget it.
My grandmother was always a rock and inspiration who never judged. laughed at my jokes, encouraged me. My mom guided me through my first 21 years, helping me build a solid foundation. She, too, laughed at my jokes and encouraged me. Although I was her only son and she sometimes fought the urge to hold on, I think she secretly was happy to hand me over to Karen, my wife of 40 years who had the unenviable task of transforming me from a happy-go-lucky, wanderlust-driven dreaming kid with big ideas and little resources into a happy-go-lucky, wanderlust-driven dreaming adult, albeit still with big ideas and little resources. She laughed {and sometimes groaned} at my jokes, followed me from state to state to state to state to state without complaint, and always encouraged my dreams, schemes, and, most of all, me.
As my mind wandered, I wondered how she would be handling the new pandemic rules. As health conscious as she was, she probably would be sequestering in place as much as possible and always wear a mask. I’m not sure she would subscribe to the social distancing mandates and I know she would break all the rules if prompted to give a hug. Hugs were her specialty.
On a Roll 
Yes, Virginia, it is normal. In fact, it might be more normal than you think. I assured her — whether it’s a short story or a novel or even a journal or blog entry — just about every writer has experienced it. I often refer to it as a “plot twist.”
Now for some Santa updates …
I was driving home from a meeting this evening about five, stuck in traffic on Colorado Boulevard when the car started to choke, splutter, and die. I barely managed to coast, cursing, into a gas station, thankful only that I wouldn’t be blocking traffic, and would have a warm spot to wait for the tow truck. My car motor wouldn’t even turn over. Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the Quickie Mart building. It looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay.
I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely. While it was fueling, I walked to the next door McDonald’s and bought two big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car, who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.
It was so incredible to be a part of someone else’s miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home without any problems. I’ll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won’t find anything wrong.
He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making everything new!” — Revelation 21:5
Prayer: You are worthy, our Lord and King, to receive glory and honor and power! Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
As we build this community prayer platform, we ask the Lord to listen to our petitions with full confidence they not only are heard but acted upon by God according to His holy will. These requests are on my prayer list and I hope you consider putting them on yours as you place your petitions before the Lord Sunday.
We come to You, Lord, because prayer is the least yet the greatest thing we can do for each other. When two or more are gathered in Your name, we confidently know You are with us. What better company can we have? You reign and we trust You! We may be broken and battered but know You heal and quiet the soul. You are the source for all that happens in our lives. We thank You for the progress being made. We thank You for the many blessings we have received this week. Some we unfortunately didn’t notice. Nonetheless, those blessings are ever-present in our lives. We thank You for healing. We thank You for slowing us down. We thank You for providing us our daily needs — no more and no less. We thank You for being with us, listening to us, walking with us on this journey. We thank You for the support of our family and friends … for seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary — sunrises, sunsets, flowers, kids laughing, adventures, good news amid the bad news. We know we can come to You with our concerns and they will be heard. Through Christ all things are possible. We lift up those family members and friends who are battling various physical, emotional, financial, career or spiritual issues and ask not for Your guidance and healing (although that would be welcomed) but to keep reminding us we are not alone in our battles. Specifically we lift up all those needing Your healing and guiding touch. We pray for the families of all those You have called home. We grieve … You celebrate. We pray for obedience to Your Will so Your “Son” Light shines through us through the power of the Spirit. And we come to You through the confidence of the words taught by Your Son Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Under Kate Motaung’s direction, hundreds of bloggers rally around a themed word and, well, write for five minutes. No rules. No backtracks. Nothing profound. Not perfect. Just five minutes of writing, letting the Spirit move you … on Friday … Saturday … or sometimes beyond. Then we link at 
It’s a natural feeling. Effects of the virus. Emotional, physical, and financial impacts. Lockdowns, virtual everything, businesses shutting down, not just a jog from “normal” but a sharp left that has many of us just scratching our heads. There will be many empty seats at the traditional Thanksgiving table, some because of the natural aging process, some because of deaths, some because of travel restrictions, some because of gathering restrictions, some because of fear, all because of Covid 19.
Life continues to be tough for families and children, for employees and employers, for church and state. Life changed after the senselessness of Sept. 11 and even after 19 years, it’s aftermath has ushered in gratuitous acts of violence and the ever-present threat of terrorism home and abroad. Those with family in the military feel a certain anxiousness that could dampen the holidays.
I remain hopeful. On top of my blessing list is an ever-widening circle of family, friends, and followers. This Thanksgiving, whether it is with family and friends at the table or socially distant and virtual, please consider:
The Light 